The iTwin is an incredibly unique device that creates a secure bridge between your home computer and any remote computers, allowing you access to specific files (or your entire hard drive) from any location. No additional software is required, the device is cross-platform, and best of all, there’s no space restriction — you can share as much as you want!

The product is relatively interesting to say the least, and despite its merits, it has a few issues. We were given a review unit to test. So we took the iTwin for a spin to see what it’s capable of. We’re also giving away 5 iTwins valued at $500 in total at the end of this review, so if you’re interesting to win one, read on and join the giveaway!

Introduction

My initial impressions were that this was a product that allows you to share items between computers in real time – much like Dropbox. However, that is not exactly the case. In essence, the iTwin is a device meant for accessing files on your home computer from a remote location. It actually creates a secure connection between both the host and remote computer to access selected files and folders. Once you’ve inserted the iTwin into your host computer and chosen the folders you wish to remotely access, detach one side of the iTwin, and plug it into another computer (perhaps while you are away at the office), and then you can access those files remotely.

It works like a flash drive, but you’re actually accessing the files on your host computer. So in order to use the iTwin, the host computer must remain on and both computers must be connected to the internet. The device advertises itself as a direct connection between two computers. However, with the iTwin, there’s no cable involved at all.

It’s a practical device, and you can definitely make use of it. However, I found myself constantly wondering why I didn’t just keep a copy of a file with me on a flash drive or on a cloud drive, edit it remotely, and then update the file on my home computer. However, with the iTwin, you are able to edit the actual file itself rather than a copy. In fact, the iTwin itself doesn’t store anything at all on itself. It only uses your computer’s disk space. This means you can virtually have gigantor-sized flash drives.

Click here for a detailed comparison between the iTwin and cloud storage, flash drives or remote access software.

Price and iTwin’s Competition

The iTwin really doesn’t have much competition. It’s in a league of its own! The device tops out at about $99 for one unit from its online store, and seeing that it doesn’t have a comparable device, I believe they can justify the price.

However, I looked into other products that deal with sharing files between computers. A few I came up with are Dropbox Pro (roughly $100 a year for 100 GB) and a good old fashioned flash drive, which is usually under $20 these days. Additionally, there is Amazon Cloud Drive which offers 200 GB for roughly $100.

Granted, the iTwin is nothing really like these devices in terms of how it functions. However, the products are all fairly similar in their own ways.

Initial Impressions

As far as the packaging goes, the device came in a simple brown envelope. Beyond that, the device was contained in a plastic-molded packaging design. You know, the ones where you have to stab repeatedly with a knife in order to just make a dent in it. I’m not a fan of this type of package (I much prefer the way Amazon does things), but I understand that it is done to insure the protection of the device. That’s perfectly reasonable, but I’m aware that there are other ways of doing it.

iTwin Review

The process of using the iTwin is relatively simple, and I found that it will pretty much work right out of the box. Granted, it didn’t work exactly as I anticipated. I originally thought that the iTwin worked on an encrypted, privated, short-range signal, and files transferred by plugging each end to their respective computers. That is not the case. I also thought that (when I discovered it worked via Internet) the device worked in a similar fashion as my preconceived notion, but rather than be limited to a short distance, you could be anywhere in the world. Although this is quite similar to how it actually works, this also isn’t the case.

When first using the iTwin, you plug it into one computer with both ends attached to each other. After recognizing that the iTwin is in your computer, you will then be prompted to give it a name. I chose Olsen (it just seemed fitting). After this simple process, you will place the files that you want the other computer to have access to “on” the iTwin (in a special folder). Although the files are not physically on the device itself, this process allows the other end of the iTwin to exclusively communicate with your choice files.

After completing this step, you can now remove the other half of the iTwin and insert it into a remote computer where it should be recognized immediately. Bear in mind that you must be connected to the Internet. Open the iTwin on your remote computer, and you should be given access to an iTwin folder. The files from the other computer will temporarily download to your remote computer as soon is it is plugged in, and you can now access and change them this way. Granted, you can send files from this remote computer to the home computer (it simply places them on the desktop), and you can do the same vice versa.

I believe this device is perfect for sharing important documents and even image editing. However, for video and music files, it may be a little much. The file sharing is limited by the speed of your Internet connection, but the storage is basically the size of either computer.

Furthermore, each time you want to work on a project remotely, you will have to download it again. Bear in mind that once you remove the iTwin from your computer, you can’t access remote files anymore. Granted, you could keep a version on the remote computer, work on it until completion, and then place it on the iTwin to ship it back to the home computer.

Design

Let’s be honest. The iTwin looks goofy.

It appears to be two flash drives pasted together with superglue – end to end. The build is very solid and it feels incredibly sturdy, but I just do not really care for the design. What really irks me is the fact that the USB connectors themselves do not have covers. They don’t even slide into the drive (much like those famous Sancruzer VW Jetta key-like drives I used in high school). I believe that in order to create a quality product, you have to pay attention to things like that.

Additionally, the device seems as though it would be very easy to lose. As far as I can tell, there are no iTwin holders or carriers that exist. Furthermore, you can’t attach a keychain to the iTwin. That would have been a very nice feature! Do you know how many overly-obnoxious couples occasionally carry separate halves of a heart with them everywhere? Well, it would be just like that — except really geeky.

However, the product it quite rugged. It also has a metal exterior, and to be honest, I’m quite content with that. Even without dust-covers or romantic influences, the device is a solid piece of work.

Living With the iTwin

To be blunt, I originally did not see how this product made sense whatsoever. Furthermore, I lost my breath while explaining the aforementioned instructions to my girlfriend Ashleigh who served as my assistant for this product review (I needed an extra computer). However, after much thought and deep meditation, I began to understand why and how this product was important.

Ignore cloud sharing for a moment. Consider the fact that there are several people out there (including myself) who prefer to have their data on a physical, real life hard drive. However, it’s a little hard to access those files when away from home, right? With the iTwin, you give the remote computer access to only the files you want to give it. Rather than keeping a cloud folder, you directly access the files on your home computer.

Say that I’m working on a design project for an epic new concert that’s coming up. Well, I know at the office there are a few better computers than what I have at home. However, since I’ve been working on the project at home, I don’t want to start from scratch. What I’ll do is give the iTwin access to the design file, go work on it at the office, and everything is good.

But herein lies the question: why don’t I just use a flash drive or cloud drive to edit the file? It would be much easier, right? Yep. Yes sir, it would. However, with both of these drives, we have the issue of space. With the iTwin, you have as much space as your computer has. Inherently, you could possibly have something like a two-terabyte Dropbox file. Granted, in reality, we all know that it would be very silly to have a two-terabyte Dropbox file. Additionally, if you are working on a big project (such as a video production), waiting on the video files to transfer between iTwin parts would be a huge hassle. You might as well just take an external hard drive with you.

Even still, the iTwin would be ideal if you are wanting to transfer files between computers (but again, this could be done a few different ways). Furthermore, it allows real-time sharing between two different people with their own respective halves of the iTwin. Beyond this, the iTwin utilizes an AES-256 secure connection, so at least it has that going for it. Furthermore, if you discover that someone has stolen one half of your iTwin, there is the option to remotely disable it, protecting your computer and keeping your mind at ease.

Should you buy it?

MakeUseOf recommends: Buy it.

I’m going to be truthful with you. I see the iTwin as being a useful product for some people. It gives a direct link to your home computer regardless of what machine you are using elsewhere, and the secure connection is a nice touch. Really, I would have it if even for just a back-up device.

Additionally, it has the “cool” factor going for it.

How do I win an iTwin?

Step 1: Fill in the giveaway form

Please fill in the form with your real name and email address so that we can get in touch if you are chosen as a winner. MakeUseOf giveaways are open to readers worldwide.

Congratulations! If you were selected as a winner, you would have received an email from jackson@makeuseof.com. Please respond jackson@makeuseof.com before Sep 19. Enquires beyond this date will not be entertained.

As far as I can tell, these devices are basically expensive crypto-dongles. Other than the plug-and-play convenience, this is a waste of a USB port. In addition, it works by (auto-)running custom software which means that you need to have a Windows or Mac computer (other OSs out of the equation) with ADMIN access (not for everybody). Also, we have absolutely no way of asserting the actual security of this stuff (other than what they say about it). It is not clear by their wording if the actual encryption is done by the device or by the computer. I don't know what their "Smart Key Generation" entails (patent-pending doesn't mean anything wrt security).

I am not saying this device is bad, just do not consider it to be a hardware solution. It really looks like a software product with a little help from hardware. SSH is a MUCH better solution (just remember to set a secure passphrase on the key or use a smart card).

Not interesting enough except for the security feature. Again except for one thing. If I lose half the the twin and I am half away around the globe, should I shuttle back to my host computer to be able to disable the link between the twins? If somebody else found it and plug it in to his computer before I am able to disable it, will the lucky finder be able to access my files? There is no mention of password. You mentioned about remotely disabling. How, when the other half is halfway around the globe in your host computer?

This kind of Flash drive will be really helpful in my studies.as for me ,an Information technology student.I should be fast reliable and efficient at all times specially sharing data's..I really love the new iTwin..

I can see how this could be handy. I get to work and there is ALWAYS some sort of file that I needed from the weekend or the night before. I can always do it by using RDC, but it is very slow compaired to a cloud service or something like iTwin.

Why is this being compared to cloud storage? its more like TeamViewer or LogMeIn, except with them your not limited to one host, you can control the host and transfer files to mobile devices or other computers. These services are free for home users and they don't waste a USB port.

This iTwin would be perfect gift for me. I am crazy about practical gadgets, and i can use it for sharing photos, and other stuff like documents. By the way, if I win this giveaway, I can use it as good back-up.

This system sound Fantastic. It should allows me to have access to files at work when I am home and vice verse thus increasing my ability to meet deadlines and to modify documents when I am free to think away from the office activities which sometimes are distractions.

This looks useful, but if I understand correctly, you have to authorize the files itwin can access in advance. What if you are working on your remote computer and realize you need another file that's on your home desktop? Can you access other files or only the ones pre-authorized?

The big advantages this seems to have over a flash drive is (a) space and (b) security (if you lose your flash drive you're SOL). But how is this so much better than something like GoToMyPC, which lets you either work on your home desktop remotely or transfer any file on your home machine to your remote location?

Very cool concept. I wonder if you could trace traffic on your computer to see what route each end of the iTwin uses to find the other? I ask because I wonder if that traffic might be routed through specific servers that could intercept or duplicate data en route to its destination...

Seems similar to setting up a HTTP/FTP server and using a dynamic DSN service which can also get you all the data on not only your home computer but your home network. Although it may be able to share data from different networks without having to setup a server and open your firewall, setup your router, etc as necessary for each and everyone.

Thank you! I thought I was going crazy here... this isn't doing anything that can't be done completely in software. I do this with my Linux desktop and laptop right now for free using SSH (along with SSHFS which can make an SSH connection look like a regular partition on the hard drive).

The thought of losing data scares me to no end so, after reviewing what is in this article it sounds beyond belief.
As an Instructor I am always dealing with data that deals with my students and these items would come in really helpful for me to use between the schools computer, that I use, and my computer at home.

Hi I'm from iTwin. I would like to thank Joshua for a wonderful review. I am not surprised a tech savvy second year student sometimes wonders why one would need this device. I will say this much. It all depends on the value of your data.

The question to ask is, is your data worth more than $50 because thats ALL you lose when you lose an iTwin.

If the file lost, stolen or leaked does not mean much, then there are many excellent options out there. iTwin comes in when security of the file starts to matter along with ease of use.

Among our customers are doctors sharing medical records with assistants, Lawyers sharing legal docs with clients and they definitely don't want to use a remote desktop solution to do this! They use every file permission setting we provide.

We have graphic designers on two floors of the same building and even across cubicles using iTwin to work on videos simply because their files are too large for email ....and they are too lazy to walk ...

So, it all really depends on the value of data you need to access or share!

Thanks for the response! I really liked the security I had with this kind of thing. I liked how you put this: How much is it worth? I'm glad to see that you know what all of your customers are doing. I intend on using mine for video transfers (depending on the Internet connection). Thanks again for dropping by!

(Also, third year. I need to change that. Then again, I don't believe it matters.)

I just read your review of the iTwin and my first thought was it was a little odd of a device. BUT... Then as I started working I realized that I needed a file that was on my home PC in Denver and I am working in Dallas for the next 3 weeks. Now I realize that having my own personal VPN would be rather useful. I am not going to carry to Dallas my 2 TB external drive and my home pc each time I have to work in Dallas for weeks on end. I will be honest 99% of the time a flash drive would be just as useful, but I can see where this can come in very handy.
William

Nice gadget but flash drives are so plentiful and cheap these days. Cloud storage is really keeping the cost way down and a viable solution to this problem. It boil down to personal preference these days.

This seems interesting, but I really don't like the fact that you have to keep the "other computer" up and running with a connection going to be able to use this, might as well use a Cloud storage. The only perk I see is that you can transfer VERY large files (if you have the time)

This iTwin would be perfect gift for me and my girlfriend. She is crazy about practical gadgets as I, and we can use it for sharing photos, small videos and other stuff like documents. By the way, if I win this giveaway, we (Me and my girlfriend) can use it as good back-up in many ways.

corect me if i am wrong..if my unit is connected to the internet i could access my files from it with the help of remote desktop or other interface that provides the same functionality...and if that is so why would i such..??

This would be perfect for me. I recently had surgery and wanted to work from home, however would require a VPN access to be able to get my files from work on my home computer. This would be much easier and I would have been able to stay at home a little longer than 2 weeks.